'Stone Cold' Steve Austin vs Dude Love (WWF In Your House: Over The Edge) Review

'Stone Cold' Steve Austin vs Dude Love (WWF In Your House: Over The Edge)

I have always considered this match to be the match in this era that was the genesis of the brawling genre, before it would become overdone as the year and into '99 would become. There is of course a whole convoluted back-story to how this title match came about and who is to be involved.

They actually had a match at the prior In Your House: Unforgiven that I have very little memory of TBH. Foley beat funk and Goldust to get this title shot (YES VINCE, I CAN SAY TITLE SHOT :p) The kitchen sink is thrown at this match with who's involved. Patterson is the announcer, Brisco is the bell ringer and Vince McMahon is the referee. Vince reminds us that this can only end by his own hand.

A line of importance there to remember when watching the match

Also if Austin touched Vince, then we will have a new champion.

This is also the same building that christened “Austin 3:16” and where Mankind battled The Undertaker in that HIAC

First up, out come Patterson and Brisco and they go through some very thorough and funny introductions. I tried putting the video of these up on YT – BUT VINCE IMMEDIATELY TOOK IT FUCKING DOWN AGAIN

So, here it is on an alternative video site so peeps can watch them rather than me writing what they say down;

https://vid.me/DmtL

Got to take note of the cars down the isle as Brisco is making his way to the ring.

:lol Looks exactly like a car salesmen here, too. Well, he owned his own body shop at least.

Well, 10 minutes later and the challenger; (Corporate) Dude Love is first out. Grinning wildly as he's got all his teeth in for this match it seems. Crowd go wild as Patterson starts introducing Austin.

“He's a beer swilling fool”

“He's a loud mouth punk”

“He's a disgrace to every human being alive today”

“Well I got news for you...........I ain't going to introduce a bum”

LOL

Crowd go ape as the glass shatters and the champion, STONE COLD STEVE AUSTIN, finally makes his way out here.

Just as Vince goes to call for the bell to get this started.............................GONG goes off

“Business is about to pick up” - :proud Oh J.R, I miss thee.

Here comes the motherfucking UNDERTAKER.

He seems to be out here so Vince doesn't fuck about and officiates this match fairly. The bell FINALLY RINGS and this this is under way.

Collar and elbow tie up to start with and both go into the corner. Vince backs Austin off, and gets the old Stone Cold finger salute for his troubles. Quick headlock by Foley (Now, I don't really want to keep writing Dude or Love, or Dude Love, so I'm just going to say Foley :p). He takes Austin down with a shoulder barge and tries for a pin. Vince counts suspiciously fast here and Austin gets right in his face to ask “What the fuck was that?”.

I have just noticed Vince is wearing an earpiece microphone lol.

Foley again takes Austin down and goes for another pin, but gets a one this time. Austin whips him off the roped and stiffs him with a nasty looking elbow to the face and immediately gets him into a side headlock on the mat.

A “Vince is gay” chant starts in the crowd

Austin reverses an Irish whip into the ropes, kicks Foley in the gut and slams his head backwards right onto the mat.

Foley's teeth have fell out

Austin picks them and STAMPS ON THEM

How could you, Steve.

'Dude has lost his smile'

Foley starts kicking the shit out of Austin. He's got Austin in the corner and starts wailing at him with big right hands. He tries to whip Austin off the ropes, but it gets reversed and Austin hits him with a LOU THESZ press and punches the crap out of Foley. He follows this up by dumping Foley over the top rope and onto the outside via clothesline. Both on the outside now, as Austin nails Foley's head off the guardrail and tries to send him into the steps. Instead, Foley reverses this and it's Austin who takes the big bump into the steel steps.

Foley follows up on this by ramming Austin's head into the same steps, just as Taker is looking loomingly on. Vince is screaming at Austin, who is flat on the outside, to get back in the ring. Soon as he does, Foley hits him with a drop toe hold and gets a 2 count.

“LETS GO STONE COLD, LET'S GO” Crowd is obviously hot for Austin.

Austin is in the corner now as Foley starts choking him out with his boot and biting him in the damn head..............and all Vince can do is watch on. Foley whips Austin hard into the opposite turnbuckle. Foley fully in control now as he drops an elbow onto Austin and then slams his head into the turnbuckle. He sends Austin into another turnbuckle and runs straight at him and hits him hard with a running knee to the gut. Foley again goes for a pin, but Austin kicks out at 1.

Austin manages to reverse a whip into the ropes and hits Foley with a neckbreaker. He then gets up immediately and hits Foley with a series of clotheslines. He gets Foley into the corner and starts 'stomping a mudhole' in him with kicks to the gut. Austin tries to clothesline Foley again, but Foley ducks and puts Austin into the

MANDABLE CLAW

Austin quickly gets out of it by sending Foley INTO the top rope

I'm sure Foley wants to keeps his ears here TBH.

He sets himself free and rolls to the outside. Austin follows him out and they briefly slug it out before Foley sends Austin flying over the announcers table

Patterson then gets on the mic and says “THIS IS A REMINDER; THIS IS A NO DISQUALIFICATION MATCH”

Since when??? Vince up to his tricks here.

Foley starts choking the life out of Austin with some cable cord. Austin breaks free by running and sending Foley into the ring area and off a table. Austin just starts beating the shit out of Foley and ends up sending both of them over the guardrail and into the crowd.

Another hell of a bump by Foley.

Both back in the ring now and Austin is firmly in command as he starts choking Foley on the ropes.

NO DQ, VINCEY BOY

Austin tries to hit Foley with a running jump into the ropes, but Foley moves and Austin ends up bouncing hard off the ropes. This should allow Foley some time to get his shit back together too. He gets up and baseball slides Austin outside of the ring. He then runs out the ring and hits Austin with his patented neckbreaker.

Vince goes to Patterson and Pat gets back on the mic

“THIS IS A REMINDER; THIS IS A FALLS COUNT ANYWHERE MATCH”

YOU NAUGHTY S.O.B, VINCE

Foley gets an immediate 2 count on the outside on Austin. Austin is straight up and just as Foley is celebrating with a little jig, Austin runs over him like a freight train with a powerful clothesline. He runs again over to Foley, but Foley sends him over his head and

ONTO THE HOOD OF A CAR

Foley then pins Austin on the car but only gets another 2 count. They trade a couple of punches and Foley runs at Austin, but this time it's Austin's turn to reveres it and sends Foley face first into a car

Even Patterson has come down to have a look lol. Taker is also still there of course, hovering over Vince to make sure he's counting these pin attempts properly. Both Austin and Foley are now on the roof of a car and Austin seemingly tries to go for a STUNNER, but Foley sends him flying onto the top of the next car

Another big bump by Austin.

Foley then does a SUNSET FLIP OFF THE HOOD OF A CAR and pins Austin......but can only get a 2 count again.

Foley then picks up some sort of steel pipe. He hits Austin with it, but immediately throws it away and instead rams Austin's head off the hood of the car.

JUICE TIME - AUSTIN IS BUSTED OPEN

Austin starts a comeback as he punches the shit out of Foley. He tries to piledrive Foley on the outside but Foley reverses and sends Austin over in a back flip. Another 2 count by Foley follows. He hits Austin with a quick snap suplex.

Man, Austin is taking some damn bumps here.

Foley then gets onto the roof a car and drops a flying elbow............but Austin manages to move out of the way

Austin then starts literally kicking the shit out of Foley all the way back to the ring. He sends Foley crashing hard into the steps. Both finally back into the ring now. Austin tries to bounce off the ropes, but Patterson catches his foot and stops him. This allows Foley to hit Austin with a clothesline and he starts hitting Austin in the head and into the open wound.

Foley takes off the turnbuckle padding and exposes the steel. He immediately rams Austin's head straight into it. Austin is just down, bloodies and beaten as he's slumped in the corner. Foley goes running over and nails him with a knee. Foley again rams Austin's head off the exposed steel. He puts Austin in a hold that brings back fond memories of Wrestlemania 13/Bret and all that

Memories, like the corners of my mind........oh sorry.

Vince is taunting Austin here, but Austin starts fighting his way back up. He gets out of it and launches at Foley with a quick flurry of right hands.....but Foley immediately whacks his head again off that exposed turnbuckle. He goes for a pin......1..........2................2.9

AUSTIN KICKS OUT

Vince is having a mini meltdown here as Foley asks Patterson to give him a steel chair. He nails Austin in the midriff with it and whacks hit hard off his back. He nails Austin with a double arm DDT right off the chair. This has to be it as Foley goes for another cover..1.2...................2.9

AUSTIN DAMN FUCK KICKS OUT AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Austin is now up and in the corner as Foley comes running at him with the chair...........but Austin manages to get his feet up sends the chair flying off Foley's head

Finally, some rest bite for Austin and a chance for some revenge. He grabs the chair himself and starts psyching himself up, but he ends up being too over zealous with the chair and it ends up bouncing off the ropes and hits him plum in the face

This doesn't deter him though as he nails Foley in the head with the chair. He pins Foley

BUT THAT S.O.B VINCE JUST STANDS THERE AND REFUSES TO MAKE THE DAMN COUNT

Austin goes over and screams at him to count. Just as he does that, Foley grabs the chair and tries to hit Austin with it, but Austin moves and the chair ends up off off Vince's noggin'

Austin immediately hits Foley with the STONE COLD STUNNER. Another ref comes down to count the pin/ 1.......2...........................PATTERSON GRABS THE REFS LEGS and pulls him out the ring. He nails the poor ref with a follow up punch lol. He could still throw a mean punch. By this time, Foley is up and puts Austin into the MANDABLE CLAW.

Austin's shoulders appear to be on the mat as Patterson takes it upon himself to count the pin. 1..........2....................UNDERTAKER GRABS PATTERSON and drags him out the ring.

HE PUTS HIM IN A CHOKESLAM AND SENDS HIM CRASHING THROUGH THE TABLE

Brisco then tries to count the pin, but is also pulled out the ring and

CHOKESLAMMED THOUGH A TABLE

Back in the ring and Austin hits Foley

WITH ANOTHER STONE COLD STUNNER

He covers Foley, grabs Vince's dead hand and makes the count with it.

No doubt about this one............1.........2........................3.

Austin finally retains.

Crowd go ape as Austin celebrates and has an eye to eye with Undertaker. Brisco/Vince/Pat are all dead of course.

THIS WAS FUCKING AWESOME AND I FUCKING MISS THIS SHIT. Seriously, it is still one of the most fun matches you could ever watch, from the outlandish announcements at the start, to the over top story of the match, to the final bell. This style of match would become very prevalent over the course of the A.E, but here it's fresh and is done to perfection. The overbooking of it was great, with the stooges and Taker being involved. Vince was wonderful around this time as a character and in this match, he continues that by stacking the odds against Austin and wanting you to will on Austin in every turn.

Austin himself deserves a lot of credit for taking all those bumps tbh, esp around this time of his career. He took his share on the outside onto the floor and on those ringside cars. I was never the biggest fan of the 'Dude Love' character, but I did like him as the 'corporate heel' here with Vince and co as it worked with the story and esp in this match.

Credit to Patterson/Brisco too for being very entertaining and taking those table bumps.

I fucking love this match and everyone should go and watch it NOW.

Shawn Michaels vs Mankind (WWF Championship) (WWF In Your House: Mind Games) Review

Shawn Michaels vs Mankind (WWF Championship) (WWF In Your House: Mind Games)

So, I was going through my In Your House DVDs, deciding on a match to watch. Despite the IYH series getting some derision over the years, the events still produced some good/great matches in between some of the dross. This match is an obvious stand out and is one that I haven't seen in a while and my mind was made up as soon as I came across it, as this was the match I really wanted to watch again.

Can HBK go toe to toe with the maniacal Mankind and retain his WWF Championship? Or will he not be able to compete with the toughness and madness that the deranged one brings? We shall see.

Paul Bearer is out first with some druids, who push along a coffin to ringside. Mankind already playing 'Mind Games'. I have a slight feeling this will come into play later on. :hmm: The casket pops open and Mankind rises up

The WWF Champion out next, with of course Jose Lothario. I sure hope he's ready for this.

Shawn quickly outs Mankind in a side headlock to start this one off. He whips him off the ropes, but Mankind catches him with a vicious elbow, sending HBK right down to the mat. Mankind starts kicking HBK and hits him with a chop to the throat. Mankind in control early as he whips HBK off the ropes and sends him straight into a back body drop. He follows this up with a big running clothesline, which sends them both over the top rope to the outside.

“ECW, ECW, ECW” chants can be heard from the crowd.

Mankind rips the outside mat up and exposes the concrete. Just as he lifts it up though, HBK catches him with a drop-kick and follows this up with two double foot stomps onto Mankind.

Shawn already knowing what he may have to do to win this thing.

HBK gets onto the turn-buckle and hits Mankind with a flying cross-body He runs straight back at Mankind and yanks his head straight onto the exposed concrete. He sends him back into the ring and hits him with a double axe handle off the top rope. HBK starts hitting Mankind with some big right hands before clotheslining him down onto the mat. He picks him up and slams him back down to the mat, before climbing onto the top turn-buckle

He hits him with a Savage like flying elbow. HBK seems to think this is it as he goes into the other corner and gets ready to tune up the band. Mankind quickly gets up and realises this and just runs and flies through the middle rope to the outside to avoid this.

Bearer hands him the infamous urn as it looks like Mankind is going to need some divine guidance here as HBK is really bringing it. Paul is screaming at Mankind with a pep talk and 'it's about the championship'. Back in the ring and Mankind/HBK start exchanging punches in the corner. Mankind sends HBK to the turn-buckle, but Shawn reverses this and seems to try a cross-body, but Mankind is too far away. So HBK goes off on one of his tantrums and start berating Mankind.

DID SOMEONE SAY WORKED SHOOT???

He kicks Mankind in the gut, who immediately responds with a slap to the face to HBK. Who in turn starts punching the shit out of Mankind. He tries to take HBK down to the mat, but HBK continues to hit some snarly right hands. THIS IS A GOD DAMN BRAWL.

HBK seems to try and hit Mankind with a bulldog, but it's reversed and Mankind takes him down into a submission hold. He's got HBK on the mat and is effectively choking him out. He's got HBK in a snap-mere takedown, but HBK starts fighting out of it with some punches to the face. Mankind still has both his legs wrapped around HBK's waist though as Shawn tries to hit him with some elbows to try and get out of it. He does finally break out of as he relentlessly punches the shit out of Mankind.

All of a sudden, Mankind turns around and fucking NAILS Shawn with one of his own right hands to the face.

GET THE FUCK DOWN INDEED

He sends HBK flying out the ring and onto the outside. Mankind grabs the Spanish announce table and starts dragging it into a position, but just as he does, HBK comes flying over it and hits Mankind with a flying elbow.

He wails Mankind's head off the casket. He then suplexes him off the steel steps and it catches Mankind's leg sweet as a nut, which the sound of comes across as loud as hell.

NASTY

Mankind gets back up and in the ring, but as soon as he does, HBK takes him straight out via that damaged knee and he slides out the ring again and lies on top of the casket. Shawn takes this ample opportunity to slam Mankind's knee hard off the casket. Shawn taking a leaf out of Bret's book here and continues to target the leg of Mankind with some kicks.

HBK realises what he has to do and how far within himself he has to search to take this new found aggressiveness to Mankind.

He stamps on the knee, which doesn;t please Earl Hebner and HBK really tries his luck here and slaps Earl.

Careful now Shawn.

Mankind starts fighting back and hits Shawn with a short flurry of punches. Mankind tries to kick HBK, but gets taken down with a leg drag to the mat. Shawn then goes for the leg again and puts Mankind into a figure four leg-lock

Mankind quickly gets out of this though by nailing HBK with a punch to the face. He whips Shawn off the ropes, but HBK hits a drop-kick straight to the heavily damaged leg of Mankind. HBK now seemingly tying to break his damn leg and is not letting up as he locks Mankind's leg up and stamps hard on it. He then puts him into a sort of one legged sharpshooter to further target the bad leg. Mankind manages to grab the ropes but it takes nearly up until the full count of 5 for HBK to finally release the hold.

HBK really is learning what he has to do and how far down he has to dig to win this thing.

Mankind though catches him with a chop to the throat, He goes towards HBK, but Shawn quickly jumps on his back and flings him over for a pinfall attempt, and gets a close 2 count. The first of the match insidently.

HBK comes off the ropes towards Mankind but gets flung over and dropped face first off the opposite top rope

Some rest bite for Mankind here and his chance for some revenge maybe.

Bearer hands Mankind some kind of instrument as Mankind starts stabbing his own leg multiple times, seemingly to try and get the feeling back and help him to turn this match around, now he knows HBK is hurt. He goes straight after HBK and starts choking him out on the ropes. He whacks Shawn's head off the casket and sends him to the outside.

This has been a war of attrition and is still far from finished.

Back in the ring and Mankind immediately starts hammering away at Shawn with some stiff shots in the corner before running at him and delivering a vicious knee to HBK;s face with all his weight. Mankind now fully in control as he plants HBK face first onto the mat, not once, but twice. BK manages to gets some adrenaline from somewhere though as he hits Mankind with a back suplex. Both men slowly get back to their feet and Shawn lands a couple of punches before being taken down with a boot to the gut and a headbutt by Mankind.

Mankind whips Shawn off the ropes, but HBK slides under his legs and takes him down via his legs. He then goes straight for Mankind with some more slugfest type right hands. Mankind though sends HBK into the corner and Shawn takes his big flying back bump and is now hanging upside down as Mankind comes flying over and nails him with an elbow.

Mankind follows this up with another flying elbow to Shawn, whilst he's still tied in the corner. HBK is now lying face first on the mat as Mankind hits him with a legdrop right onto the back of his head. He's still on offense as he gives HBK a big boot, sending HBK over he top rope and narrowly avoiding hitting the casket.

Those damn caskets.

He follows Shawn to the outside and runs at him, but HBK moves and it sends Mankind flying into and over the top of the steel steps. Both of them make their way to their feet and HBK quickly goes to Mankind and drop toe hold's him face first back onto the steps. Shawn now back in the ring as is probably thankful of the rest at this stage, however brief it may be.

Mankind gets back on the ring apron and they both take it in turns trying to suplex one another. Mankind wins this battle, but HBK manages to land on his feet. Mankind then runs at him on the apron, but Shawn moves and Mankind goes head first into the ring post.

Steel steps, ring posts; Mankind is taking a fucking battering, here.

Both on their feet again and Mankind gives HBK and elbow before running at him, but Shawn catches him and plants him down with a powerslam and gets a nearfall 2 count.

Jim Ross - “WHAT MATCH. WHAT A WWF CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH WE ARE SEEING RIGHT HERE” - You are bang on there, J.R.

HBK sends Mankind into the ropes, then throws him over the opposite ropes and Mankind ends up getting stuck in the ropes

Careful now, you don't want to lose another ear, here

Mankind and the ref try and get his free, but as Shawn comes over, Mankind quickly puts on the

MANDABLE CLAW

Luckily for HBK, he kicks Mankind free of the ropes and out of the ring. Both men are now down.

Shawn then goes to the outside, but just as he gets near, Mankind again puts on the

MANDABLE CLAW

But HBK quickly pulls Mankind right into the guardrail, knocking over a Spanish announcer at the same time.

HBK then picks up a chair, as Mankind throws a punch, he instead hits the chair with his hand. Shawn follows this up with a chair strike to the legs and a shot to the hand of Mankind.

Stop the hand that could claw you to death. HBK drags Mankind back in the ring and starts

BITING MANKIND'S DAMN FINGERS!!!!!!

He takes Mankind down and goes about trying to destroy his hand by slamming it against the mat. He starts stomping on them and twisting them. Shawn jumps off the ropes multiple times straight landing on the fingers of Mankind.

Really excellent psychology and work here by HBK I have to say.

Shawn then runs at Mankind, but instead gets thrown over the top rope and takes a big bump onto the outside. Mankind gets onto the ring apron and flies at Shawn with a flying elbow. Mankind then baseball slides out the ring and hits Shawn with his patented neck-breaker HBK starts to get back into the ring, but just as he has his head through the middle ropes, Mankind plants him back down with a leg drop.

He follows this up with a double arm DDT onto the champion.

He goes for the cover and gets a 1,2......................2.9 

HBK KICKS OUT.

Mankind doesn't let up though as he nails HBK with a Piledriver

Remember those?

Again he goes for a cover and gets a close 2 count. He tries again by hooking the leg, but again, HBK kicks out at a close 2.

Mankind is frustrated now and is having a fit in the corner, pulling his own hair out and going ballistic. He goes over to the announcers area and starts grabbing and throwing chairs into the ring. He opens up the casket and tries to put HBK in it for some reason, but Shawn fights his way out. Both back in the ring and HBK hits Mankind with a flying elbow.

HULK..............OH FUCK I MEAN KIP UP

by Shawn.

He gets Mankind into the corner and starts wailing at him with stomps. He slams him sown to the mat and climbs up onto the top turn-buckle He hits Mankind with a flying cross-body and goes for a pin, but can only get a close 2 count. HBK again goes up top, but Mankind is back to his feet and hits the ropes, sending HBK onto the turn-buckle via his crown jewels.

Mankind gets up on the apron, grabs HBK and tries to

BACK BODY DROP HIM THROUGH A TABLE

'HOLY SHIT, HOLY SHIT, HOLY SHIT'

HBK though seems to reverse it mid air with a cross-body Bearer has the ref distracted on the outside as Mankind gets inside the ring with a steel chair. He gets on the turn-buckle, but as soon as he does, HBK runs at him, off another standing chair that is also in the ring, and kicks the chair straight off his face

SWEET CHIN MUSIC!! SWEET CHIN MUSIC!!

Awesome spot.

HBK then goes for the pin, but gets a 2 before he gets up as here comes

VADER

And of course the bell rings. Vader must have been slow to do the run in here, as when Shawn pinned Mankind, Earl had to count very slowly to wait for the run in to happen lol.

Shawn ends up hitting Vader with a flying elbow, sending him over the top rope. Just as HBK is standing in the ring, Paul Bearer comes up behind and nails with with the urn.

J.R - “The referee didn't see it”

Well Jim, doesn't matter now does it as he's already rung the bell for the DQ before this happened :p

Just as Vader is about to get back into the ring

SYCHO SID arrives and goes straight for him. They both start wailing on each other down the isle as multiple referees starts running towards the ring. HBK is dead on the floor as Mankind slowly starts to make his way to his feet. Shawn gets up and is immediately hits with the

MANDABLE CLAW

He asks Bearer to lift the casket lid up, Just as he does,

THE FUCKING UNDERTAKER IS IN THERE!!!!

And goes straight after Mankind.

He sends him over the top rope and follows and stalks him and Bearer down the isle. Finally, back in the ring, HBK is declared the winner via DQ and retains his WWF Championship.

Well, until I rewatch Bret/Austin from Survivor Series, as of this writing, this is the WWF MOTY and the probable MOTY for the whole of the US. It's a perfect mix of this style as you can get out of a wrestling match, DQ finish excluded of course. This is also one match that the finish doesn't hurt the match IMO. Vader/HBK/Sid/Taker/Mankind were all involved in storylines with each other, so it was not a surprise.

Both Mankind and HBK came out of this looking like a million dollars each too. Shawn showed a real aggressive side pretty much straight from the off and this match showed how far down he had to delve to not only match Mankind for his physicality, but also how to actually beat him. He does some really great leg work during the first half and then even getter in the second once he starts going after Mankind's fingers so he can't put on the claw. Shawn's main offense was also spot on here, esp his punches, which I thought looked really good. I loved how they both mixed up both traditional wrestling, brawling and well placed, but not overdone, high spots. Foley took his obvious fair share of bumps, but they both worked hard in getting intensity and nastiness of the match over.

This match didn't happen on a Wrestlemania, or a Summerslam.......it happened on a freaking In Your House PPV. It's as good, if not better, than anything else that year. We know HBK had a pretty consistent year in '96 and this match is just the crowning glory of it all.

Don't need to say recommended as OF COURSE IT FUCKING IS

A stunning piece of work and one of the great title matches in the company history.

Bret Hart vs. Roddy Piper (Intercontinental Championship) (Wrestlemania 8) Review

Bret Hart vs. Roddy Piper (Intercontinental Championship) (Wrestlemania 8)

This is a match that will always hold a special place in my heart, and I'm sure others who were a kid around this time. Bret was my favourite back then and will always be, but I also liked Piper, so it was an interesting match with them both going in as faces and knowing the close history between the two. Been years since I have watched the match too. Piper/Bret apparently planned out the match in a diner somewhere and they both agreed that they'll add a 'surprise' to the match that would fool everyone, including Vince. I'm sure we'll get to that in the match.......

Piper won the Intercontinental Championship back at the Royal Rumble from The Mountie and Bret was the next in line, and a win would be the catalyst for his real big push.

First, I'll post a promo between the two a few weeks before Wrestlemania (IF Vince hasn't took it down yet)

Roddy Piper + Bret Hart (Challenge 3/15/1992)

First of all, Piper looks great here in his street clothes. It's a very good promo from both, but esp Piper, who quickly goes from not so serious, to full on serious. Piper offers not to fight Bret, he respects Bret and the Hart family and doesn't want to lose his friendship. Bret seems to understand this, but at the same time, he wants to win back the title, and if he has to beat Piper to do it, so be it.

The ending to this promo is fantastic by Piper.

So, here we are at Wrestlemania. First of all, we get a pre match promo with Mene Gene along with both Piper and Bret. I love how this starts out with Piper joking around with Bret, then all of a sudden, it's gets real serious.

“Why do it here, when I can have a million people watch me rip your head off” - Piper

Then as Piper turns away, Bret does the fake punch thing, to call back to that above interview on Challenge, to when Piper did that to Bret, Piper fires right back though and pulls out his belt wrapped around his fists. I fucking love Piper's “Bye, bye. Bye, bye” to Bret too. Fuck Piper has been gold so far and we haven't even got into the match yet.

This thing is oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooon.

First of all, forgot how huge the Hoosier Dome looked in a wide shot.

The Hitman is out first, looking as cool as ever. Not only is my all time favourite, but he just so happens to have one of my all time favourite themes, too. Piper comes out with a 'mean as fuck' look on his face. Oh he means business, alright.

“I've never liked bag pipe music, it stinks” - Heenan

LOL

They get in each other's faces as the ref lays out the rules.

Piper, physically, looks fantastic here btw. In maybe the best shape of his career.

In this shot, there is a big four horseman banner in the crowd lol.

They both lock up to get this started, and both struggle for control, before Piper wins out and gives Bret an arm drag. Again, they both lock up and struggle for control, but it's Bret this time who wins out and gives Piper the arm drag. Tit for tat to start this.

Lock up again and Piper takes Bret down to the mat with a single leg takedown hold. Bret is struggling to break the hold, so he just makes his way over to the ropes and dumps Piper through the middle rope and onto the outside. Piper is PISSED at this and storms back into the ring, gets in Bret's face, they have a little shove until

PIPER SPITS RIGHT AT BRET

Awwwwwwwwwwwwwww shiiiiiiiiiiiiiit.

Piper raises his hands and they go for a test of strength. Piper quickly breaks out of this with an armbar, which Bret reverses and starts hitting at Piper's midriff. Piper shoves his hand in Bret's face and gives him a stiff chop to the throat. Bret just won't let go of the arm of Piper, as Piper starts waling away at Bret with wild punches and big slaps. This doesn't work, and Bret outs Piper's other arm into an armbar.

Piper again tries to break the hold by grabbing Bret's head and ramming it into the turnbuckle, but Bret just won't fucking let go. So Piper goes back to chopping the fuck out of him. Piper starts running around the ring, but Bret is hanging on tight and he plants Piper face first into the mat.

Down on the mat now and Bret has still got Piper's arm locked in. Both back up now and Piper whips Bret off the ropes, misses with a clothesline and Bret nails him with a sweet dropkick. Bret seems really hurt though and is clutching at shoulder in pain. Then out of nowhere, he rolls Piper up for a pin attempt

Oh Bret, you little scamp.

Both get up at the same time and Piper looks at the ref like “WHAT THE FUCK” and slaps Bret hard in the face. Both kicking off now as Bret shoves him and they start jawing at each other. Piper whips Bret off the ropes, but Bret comes flying at him with a cross body and, eventually, they both go over the top rope and onto the outside. Bret though was hanging onto the top rope and it was more Piper's momentum in what threw him over. Piper straight up though and gets back into the ring. Bret gingerly makes it to his feet and Piper, rather sarcastically, sits on the middle rope and holds them open for Bret.

So Bret obliges, without ever taking his eyes off Piper though. Piper then goes into his back of heel tricks, as Bret is trying to seemingly tie his boot, Piper nails him with a sucker punch to the face.

Oh, Roddy.

Piper now starts kicking the shit out of Bret, kicking his head and stomping at him. He rams Bret's head off the turnbuckle for good measure, too. He nails Bret with a very closed fist and hits him with a running bulldog.

HOLY FUCK, BRET IS DAMN BUSTED OPEN

JUICE TIME AT THE HOOSIER DOME

Piper goes for the cover, but Bret kicks out. Piper bites him and sends him crashing, back first, into the turnbuckle. Piper now on the assault, as he slaps Bret and hits with with a vicious high knee, before going for another cover, but again getting a 2 count. Piper nails Bret with another closed fist and whips him into the ropes. Bret reverses this into a sunset flip and gets a 2 count. Piper is pissed at this, and starts stiffing Bret with some boxing style jabs to the open wound on Bret's head.

Another 2 count pin follows.

Bret is a BLOODY MESS here as Piper again starts punching his head, but Bret starts to fight back, nailing Piper with a swift punch of his own and hits Piper with a running forearm, sending Piper flying out the ring.

Bret just about manages to get back to his feet as Piper re-enters the ring. They hit each other with clotheslines and now they are both down on the mat.

Crowd are hot now, as Piper goes for a risky move and climbs to the top turnbuckle. Just as he makes it up there, Bret gets up and hits him plum in the midriff, planting Piper right on the ropes.

Playing possum again, eh Hitman

Bret grabs Piper's hair and and sends his head crashing to the mat. He hits him with an inverted atomic drop and a snap suplex. He covers Piper, but again, can only get a 2 count.

Man, this has been some match.

He hits Piper with a neckbreaker and again, goes for the cover, but again, can only get another 2 count.

I know I have said it already, but BRET and STUFFED PIG spring to mind here.

Bret really giving it to Piper now, as he nails a backbreaker. Bret attempts to apply the SHARPSHOOTER, but Piper does everything he can to grab Bret's leg and stop this from happening. He succeeds, but Bret nails him with an elbow. Piper flat on his back now, as Bret climbs to the middle tutnbuckle and and goes to elbow Piper again, but Piper gets his foot up and hits Bret plum in the face with his boot.

This has been a proper back and forth classic.

They are both on their knees and both start hitting each other with big rights.

Both back on their feet, Bret headbutts Piper, puts him in a headlock, but Piper pushes Bret out of it and STRAIGHT INTO THE REFEREE

REF BUMP ~!

He hits Bret with a (sloppy) clothesline and this sends Bret out the ring via the middle ropes. Piper goes after him and whacks Bret's head off the steel steps and dumps him straight back into the ring. Piper then goes over and

GRABS THE STEEL RING BELL

WTF???????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Fans are screaming here. Piper stands over Bret's bloody body with the ring bell in hand.

NO RODDY, NO

Bret is on his knees in desperation here as Piper continues to tease whacking Bret over the head. Piper starts looking around and into the crowd.

THAT'S IT RODDY, YOU DON'T REALLY WANT TO DO THIS, SON.

“Use it, use it. You know that old saying; What the hell, use the bell” - Heenan

“Hit him, give it to me, I'll hit him” - Heenan

LOL

Piper finally comes to his senses and throws the bell out the ring.

Bret gets up and Piper gives him a big right hand, Bret tries to retaliate back, but misses and Piper puts him into a sleeper hold. Bret manages to plant his feet onto the turnbuckle and pushes himself onto Piper and into a PIN ATTEMPT

Ref just about gets back up to count. 1,2.....................................3

OMFG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

BRET HART IS YOUR NEW WWF INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPION.

Crowd are on their feet. What a moment.

The ref gets the belt, but Piper snatches it straight off him. Fuck sake Piper, don't start this again. He puts it onto Bret, holds out his hand, and lifts Bret up.

THIS IS FUCKING EMOTION

This whole match is an emotional roller-coaster. The storytelling and psychology is seriously off the charts here. Piper looked fantastic and I loved the way he slipped into de-facto heel mode for this match to make the dynamic between them even better. Bret getting bloodied up was also such an excellent idea and it totally worked within the context of the match. These two just meshed so well and it came across as two guys going back and forth for, in their minds, the most important championship title belt.

A seminal moment for Bret to take this forward and be the next singles star and credit to Piper for giving it all he could to properly put him over. Both of them came out of this looking great though. It's still a great match that ranks in the one of greatest in the company's history. Both on the quality of the match and the performers and what it set out to achieve.

HIGHLY Recommended.

Hulk Hogan vs. Stan Hansen (WWF/AJPW 4/13/1990) Review

Hulk Hogan vs. Stan Hansen (WWF/AJPW 4/13/1990)

You know what? I have never seen this match before :o Of course I knew about it, but just never got around to actually watching it, so here it goes. This was of course in All Japan but was a cross promotion event with the WWF and took place just over a week after Wrestlemania 6. This was supposed to be Hogan/Gordy, but Gordy refused to do the job (could have been because Hogan lost the WWF title just a week prior, and Gordy didn't want to put Hogan over after that – irony for Mr.Hulk, here). So Hansen stepped in his place. Savage/Tenryu, Warrior/DiBiase and Bret/Tiger Mask also took place on this card.

This is what Hansen said in his book about this;

"The day before the show, Gordy decided he wasn't going to "do business" with Hogan. He knew he was in line for a top spot with the company, and he didn't think it would be a good career move. Finding himself in a tough spot without a top talent for Hogan, Baba called my home in Mississippi and asked my dad if he knew how to get in touch with me. I was enjoying time off at my wife's house in Japan. Baba got the necessary information from my dad and called me.....He explained that Terry had backed out and asked if I would take the spot. Baba said he was in a bad position since Gordy was one of the boys, and it made him look bad to both New Japan and the WWF. I was happy to take the match."

So, let's get started.

First of all, they show Hogan backstage by a monitor warming up and getting ready for the battle.

Hansen is out next and starts thrashing away at fans with the bullrope on his way to the ring, and gives the camera a volley too for good measure.

Oh, big Stan is not finished there, he gets in the ring and POLAXES the poor announcer to the mat and whips him too

'Real American' hits the stereo so it must mean Hogan is on his way down and gets a good pop from the crowd. Oh God, just realised good 'ol Earl Hebner is the ref; Stan even gives him a sly whack with the rope, too. Cheers, Stan.

You can already feel this has got 'big match feel' to it before they even get started. They both start tentatively as they share brief lock ups, before Hogan puts on arm bar. Hansen breaks this off and they both shove each other in a 'yeah, what you got' way. Hulk gives Hansen a drop toe hold before applying a front face lock (remember, this is Japan Hogan). Stan shoves Hogan into the corner to break the hold and shouts something at him (hopefully it was something like “That all you got, boy?”). Hogan again goes for the drop toe hold (tad sloppy) and reapplies the front face lock.

Hansen quickly breaks out of this and they're back to even stevens. Hansen gives Hogan a chop and Hulk replies with a big punch to the head of Stan, as if to say “Well if that's what you want to do, bring it”. They then end up trading chops/punches and eye rakes (which they both no sell), before Hansen just has enough of this shit and dumps Hogan through the ropes and onto the outside. He goes right after Hogan ans tries sending his head off the post, but Hulk blocks it and Hansen ends up head first into it. Hulk briefly gets back in the ring to break the count out, before going back after Hansen with some punches before planting his face over the guardrail and onto a desk.

Yup, the Hulkster isn't messing around, here.

He continues to pound on Hansen's head and Stan is now 

BUSTED OPEN

Both back in the ring and Hulk picks Stan up for a back body drop and gets the first 2 count of the match. He then goes right after the open wound as he continues to close punch Hansen's head and gets another 2 count. Hogan is pretty relentless here as he sees the vulnerable part of Hansen and just goes onto to exploit it with more punches to the head before kicking at it as Hansen stumbles onto the outside. Hulk makes sure as he gives Hansen a big kick to send him down onto the mat.

Man, Hogan really in control here.

He throws Hansen right back into the ring and quickly applies a abdominal stretch as Stan is literally red in the face.

Stan manages to break out of this with a hip toss to Hogan. Hulk though, goes right back after Stan and gets him in the corner and starts hitting him with some BIIIIIIIIIIG CHOPS to the chest and punches to that open wound, before Hansen again decides to roll to the outside. Both on the outside again now as Hogan again gibes Stan a hard right, which sends him over the guardrail and into the announcers table. Hulk then picks him up and dumps him through the table with a powerslam

Hansen at this point is dead on the floor and bleeding like the proverbial stuffed pig. Hogan picks him back up and sends his head right back into the same post he busted it open, on.

Now that's just fucking mean, Hogan.

Hogan puts him back into the ring and covers for another 2 count. Hulk still in control as he sends Hansen into the corner and follows it up with a clothesline and some kicks to the face. Both still in the corner and Hogan is just punishing Stan at this point (well, that sounds weird), with some more chops. He whips Hansen into the opposite corner and runs at him, but is met by a BIG BOOT TO THE FACE from Stan.

This could be the comeback.

Stan follows this up by running at Hogan with a shoulder tackle that sends them both down to the mat. Phew, time for a short breather perhaps. Hansen quickly tries for a cover, but only gets a 2 count of his own. Now it's Stan's turn to stick it to Hogan, as he sends him to the outside and over the guardrail and into the same table area where he was just put through. He literally shoves a poor bloke off his chair and picks that up and whacks Hogan over the head with it.

He then gives Hogan a sly dig of the knee to his face and gets back into the ring. He goes right back after Hulk by jumping over the rail onto him and shoeing some fans away in just brilliant style

:lol I love this bloke

Back in the ring, and Hansen stiffs Hogan with one of his infamous knees before getting s 2 count. But what is this?

DOUBLE JUICE

HOGAN IS BUST OPEN NOW, TOO

Hansen is now showing no mercy and he's inflicting some of his own revenge by potatoing Hulk with some strikes and clubs to the freshly opened wound, which sends Hogan down to the mat for another 2 count. Hogan bails to the outside, but is immediately followed by Hansen. Hulk picks up the rope and tries to strangle Hansen with it, but is quickly shoved off and gets a whip to the back for his troubles.

Hansen is now firmly in the 'No fucks given' mode, as he continues to used closed fist punches to Hogan's head, before planting his knee right down on his chest. Hogan gets whipped off the ropes, but comes back and hits Hansen with a forearm and has a 'Hulk Up' moment, He then tries for the BIG LEG DROP, but Hansen moves out the way and tries to score a quick win, but only gets a 2 count. He again whips Hogan off the ropes, but is again caught by Hulk coming back, this time with a crossbody, and Hulk gets a 2 count.

Then Hogan blocks Stan by the ropes and hits him with a BIG BOOT, before hitting him with the AXE BOMBER for the WIN. Well, that come out of nowhere, TBH.

Hansen gets his rope and leaves immediately as Hogan is left alone to gloat up the victory in the ring.

Well, that was certainly a big match that felt like a big match. They both bought out an aggressive side that further intensified the match, esp when they both juiced. You have to remember there are pretty much two Hogan's in wrestling rings; Japan Hulk and American Hulk and this match is another example of that. He was as aggressive as Hansen here in exploiting the open wound and taking that apart. The finish did come out of pretty much nowhere though TBH, and not something I was quite ready for. But other than that, this is an excellent match that built and built with both guys getting their big shit it.

Hansen was just tremendous in how dickish he was to the crowd and was a joy to watch, again.

Recommended.